MacDara Conroy
MacDara Conroy is a contributor covering all things on the water, from boating and wildlife to science and business
Hydrophones Dropped Off Greenland Recording Sounds of Melting Arctic Icebergs to Fuel Irish Artist’s ‘Ocean Memory’ Project
20th October 2022 Environment
An Irish artist is part of an international expedition that’s dropping hydrophones into the waters off Greenland to record the sounds of melting icebergs. According to the Guardian, Siobhán McDonald will use the recordings from the underwater microphones in a…
Arklow Bank Wind Turbine ‘Struck By Lightning’ Amid Intense Thunderstorm
19th October 2022 Power From the Sea
A wind turbine off the coast of Co Wicklow is believed to have been struck by lightning amid an intense thunderstorm on Wednesday afternoon (19 October). Smoke was spotted billowing from the 3.6MW turbine in the Arklow Bank Wind Park…
Aussies Probe Mystery of Rare ‘Boxing Kangaroo’ Flag in Skerries Sailing Club
17th October 2022 America's Cup
A member of the 1983 America’s Cup winning crew has visited Skerries Sailing Club to follow a lead on a rare team flag that went missing when Australia II won the Auld Mug. According to ABC News, the ‘boxing kangaroo’…
Ghost Fishing: Enough Gear Lost and Abandoned in World’s Oceans Each Year to Stretch to Moon and Back, Study Says
16th October 2022 Fishing
Each year enough commercial fishing gear to reach the moon and back is lost or discarded in the world’s oceans. That’s according to what’s being touted as the most comprehensive study ever conducted on lost fishing gear, as the Guardian…
Former Irish Rugby Star is Second Irish Woman to Complete Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming
15th October 2022 Sea Swim
A former Irish rugby international has become only the second Irish woman to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. Rosie Foley recently crossed 32.3km between Catalina Island and the mainland of Southern California to match the rugby union…
Irish Coast Guard Hails ‘Important’ Role of Drones In Marine Rescues - Video
15th October 2022 Coastguard
The Irish Coast Guard has shared video of a drone-assisted rescue in Cork Harbour which it says illustrates the increasing importance of new technology in emergency responses. As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Crosshaven RNLI rescued a woman who was cut…
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Hooked Off Pembrokeshire Coast Believed to Be Biggest Ever Caught in Welsh Waters
12th October 2022 Angling
An Atlantic bluefin tuna hooked off the Pembrokeshire coast recently is believed to be the biggest fish ever caught in Welsh waters. As Wales Online reports, the 900lb (408kg) monster catch was made by Simon Batey and Jason Nott while…
Great Blasket Island’s 2022 Caretakers Speak on Downside of Visitor Behaviour
9th October 2022 Island News
This year’s caretakers of Great Blasket Island have spoken of their “beautiful time” on the island looking after its holiday cottages over the summer months. But they also shared their disappointment at the behaviour or some of the hundreds of…
Blackwater Divers Photograph Shipwreck in Bantry Bay That Lay Undiscovered for Nearly 200 Years
6th October 2022 Diving
A diving team based in Fermoy have captured up-close images of a shipwreck that lay undiscovered in Bantry Bay for nearly 200 years. The French naval frigate La Surveillante was deliberately scuttled by its captain in 1796 during the failed…
Part of Dublin’s original sea wall dating back to the late 1720s has been discovered during excavations beneath a former electricity substation at Dublin Port. Announcing the find today (Wednesday 5 October), Dublin Port Company also revealed the discovery of…
A sea swimmer was resuscitated after sustaining a head injury in the water at Lahinch in Co Clare on Saturday afternoon (1 October), as the Irish Examiner reports. It’s understood that the woman casualty was retrieved from the water to…
Budget 2023: Modest €8m Increase for Sport to Fund Performance Athletes and ‘Multi-Million Package’ Promised to Help Cover Clubs’ Rising Costs
27th September 2022 Budget
Sports in Ireland have received a relatively modest €8 million funding boost in today’s Budget announcement, as The Irish Times reports. About half of this figure will go towards supporting sailors, rowers, paddlers and other athletes’ preparations for the 2024…
IWDG Hails Return of Whale Watch Day With More than 500 People Joining In Around the Coast
25th September 2022 Marine Wildlife
Despite lower attendance and a reduced sighting rate, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) says it is “delighted” with the return of its All-Ireland Whale Watch Day last month. Held on Saturday 20 August during Heritage Week and for…
The annual Liffey Swim was held in Dublin city centre on Saturday (24 September) with nearly 500 people taking part, as RTÉ News reports. Dublin Swimming Club’s Ken Dent took the men’s honours, leading from the outset and setting a…
Safety Boat Patrols Now a Vital Part of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Operations
24th September 2022 Dun Laoghaire Harbour News
Afloat.ie recently highlighted some of the significant changes at Dun Laoghaire Harbour under the stewardship of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. One of those that’s been arguably less heralded is the introduction last year of a new safety patrol boat service…
A man has been rescued from a sea cave on the Co Mayo coast in which he has been trapped for close to 24 hours. A multi-agency rescue operation had been awaiting low tide this afternoon (Sunday 18 September) to…
A dog has escaped serious injury as he was rescued from the sea after falling more than 70 feet from a cliff near Doolin in Co Clare. As TheJournal.ie reports, Irish Coast Guard volunteers responded to the call for help…
Three huge cranes which left Cork Harbour at the end of August have arrived at their final destination the New York area, as RTÉ News reports. Tom MacSweeney covered the three Limerick-built cranes upon their departure from Port of Cork…
Skerries RNLI were tasked on Thursday morning (8 September) following emergency calls to Dublin Coast Guard reporting a small RIB with a person on board in difficulty off Rush beach. Pagers were sounded shortly after 11.30am and the volunteers quickly…
Safety Must Be Improved as Demand for Shannon Holidays Rises, Say Boat Operators
5th September 2022 Inland Waterways
Safety on the water must be improved as demand for staycations on the inland waterways increases. That’s the warning from boat operators on the Shannon, as reported in The Irish Times, who have raised various issues such as a lack…